Flushing with the lid down

[mightyducks]

Went to the gym yesterday and there was a sign on the back of the toilet door asking people to close the lid before flushing to help reduce the spread of covid 19, first time I’ve seen a sign saying this - not sure if it’s entirely true but if it could help it should be a basic public health message surely? Like washing your hands etc

Tbh it should be flushed with lid down at all times anyway!

@Horehound

Tbh it should be flushed with lid down at all times anyway!

Exactly, and yes of course it will help!

I am fascinated - I did not know that

None of the toilets in my workplace has a lid

Someone posted similar the other day about a supermarket toilet. None of ours have lids!

I always like checking everything flushes away, and how would I do that with the lid closed. I generally do close the lid after flushing if I am worried about any residual smells.

I may completely have missed the point of toilet lids all of my life.

I am pretty embarrassed to think I might have been doing this wrong for decades.

Saw this in public health advice a year ago I am sure.

But basic hygiene anyway I think.

Yup. Apparently the fecal flora can travel up to 3ft out of a toilet if flushed with lid up. Nice eh?

I saw exactly the same thing in the toilets at work. I agree it's a basic public health message but will have absolutely no impact on the spread of covid

@puppylucky I guess I’m interested in if it can actually spread covid via a toilet flush .. you thinking not?

They found COVID in fecal matter, flush sprays it up in the air so I suppose a risk?

I work at a large company headquarters and we have signs in the toilet cubicles asking to flush with lid down since covid.

Since Covid, I no longer flush public toilets without lids. I know that's gross but it's made me so aware of hygiene.

@BraveBraveMouse who do you think flushes your mess? The flushing fairy?
Nice that your awareness spreads as far as your own nose..........and no further..........

Always flush with the lid down even at home. I thought it was quite well known that flushing with the lid up sprays stuff around the room?

Always, always flush with the toilet lid down. That stuff gets around - a distance.

Makes sense, perhaps others should do it. Even if just to reduce noise.

I agree much more hygienic to flush with the lid down, especially in public toilets. What is horrible though is opening a lid to find all sorts of disgustingness in there, when you’d have avoided that cubicle if you’d seen it before you went in.

This should be done whether Covid is a factor or not. It would certainly help to stop the spread of norovirus and other stomach bugs.

Re: Covid, it has been found in poo, so it should help to stop the spread in the same away that wearing a mask helps.

I can't believe people don't put the lid down before flushing, particularly in a home bathroom where there may be toothbrushes!

Good manners surely dictate that you flush with the lid down, then raise the lid again afterwards, to check the flush has worked and so that the next person is not obliged to touch the toilet lid until after they have used the toilet?! What sort of selfish tosser leaves the lid closed?

I've always done this, but most certainly all in public places should be....

I've always done this. Flushing any loo without the lid down is vile.

Sometimes I forget to shut the lid and get the ick, have to sterilise any toothbrushes in the vicinity and hot wash any towels. It's definitely meant to be shut!

I like to check it's properly flushed too. So I flush with lid shut, open the lid which is dual purpose as I can check the efficacy of the flush and have the toilet open ready for the next person.

I guess it does depend if you give a shit about the next person or not though. I try to leave the toilet as I would like to find it. So if there is no lid I would still flush even in a public loo

I hardly ever flush with the lid down. I've survived so far. I didn't really know this was a thing.